Ex-Pakistan PM Abbasi's remand extended till Aug 29

Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's remand has been extended till August 29 in a multi-billion-rupee corruption case, here on Thursday.

The case is related to awarding of a Rs 220 billion contract to an LNG (liquified natural gas) firm in 2013.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader was presented before the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday, following the expiration of his remand, Geo News reported. The NAB had requested for 14-day extension of remand.

The former Prime Minister was arrested by the anti-corruption watchdog in July. He is accused of favouring as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources a company in which he was a shareholder.

Abbasi is accused of commission of the offence of corruption and corrupt practices under section 9 (a) of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. 

The PML-N leader is also named in the 'exit control list', which prohibits him from leaving Pakistan. He is one of the several high-profile politicians who have been arrested under the "accountability" drive launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan.  IANS